{"id":73159,"date":"2026-10-16T23:08:17","date_gmt":"2026-10-17T03:08:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-waives-russia-sanctions-amid-rising-tensions-anthropic-seeks-9b-in-ai-debt\/73159\/"},"modified":"2026-10-16T23:08:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T03:08:17","slug":"trump-waives-russia-sanctions-amid-rising-tensions-anthropic-seeks-9b-in-ai-debt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-waives-russia-sanctions-amid-rising-tensions-anthropic-seeks-9b-in-ai-debt\/73159\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump Waives Russia Sanctions Amid Rising Tensions; Anthropic Seeks $9B in AI Debt"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_86 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-waives-russia-sanctions-amid-rising-tensions-anthropic-seeks-9b-in-ai-debt\/73159\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-waives-russia-sanctions-amid-rising-tensions-anthropic-seeks-9b-in-ai-debt\/73159\/#Geopolitical_Shifts_Trump_Waives_Russia_Sanctions\" >Geopolitical Shifts: Trump Waives Russia Sanctions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-waives-russia-sanctions-amid-rising-tensions-anthropic-seeks-9b-in-ai-debt\/73159\/#AI_Financing_Anthropics_60_Billion_%22Project_North_Star%22\" >AI Financing: Anthropic\u2019s $60 Billion &quot;Project North Star&quot;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-waives-russia-sanctions-amid-rising-tensions-anthropic-seeks-9b-in-ai-debt\/73159\/#M_A_SoftBank_Eyes_30_Billion_Security_Play\" >M&amp;A: SoftBank Eyes $30 Billion Security Play<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-waives-russia-sanctions-amid-rising-tensions-anthropic-seeks-9b-in-ai-debt\/73159\/#Global_Security_North_Koreas_AI_Torpedo_Hormuz_Tensions\" >Global Security: North Korea\u2019s AI Torpedo &amp; Hormuz Tensions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/trump-waives-russia-sanctions-amid-rising-tensions-anthropic-seeks-9b-in-ai-debt\/73159\/#Corporate_Regional_Briefs\" >Corporate &amp; Regional Briefs<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>President Donald Trump issued a broad waiver on October 16<\/strong> for sanctions mandated by the <strong>Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act<\/strong>, exempting Russia from 100% tariffs and other penalties just days before they were to take effect.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Anthropic is seeking $9 billion from Blackstone (<a href=\"\/stock\/BX\">BX<\/a>)<\/strong> as part of a massive <strong>$60 billion debt package<\/strong> dubbed &quot;Project North Star&quot; to finance AI chip leases, offering yields exceeding <strong>10%<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>SoftBank Group (<a href=\"\/stock\/SFTBY\">SFTBY<\/a>) is in preliminary talks to acquire Allied Universal<\/strong> for an estimated <strong>$30 billion<\/strong> (including debt), a move intended to integrate AI and robotics into physical security services.<\/li>\n<li><strong>North Korea successfully tested the &quot;Zam-2.0,&quot;<\/strong> a new high-speed, precision-guided torpedo featuring <strong>AI-based target detection<\/strong>, marking a significant escalation in its naval capabilities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The FAA and air traffic controllers reached a deal for a 2.8% pay increase<\/strong>, contingent on new workforce reforms such as &quot;badging in&quot; to track operational efficiency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Geopolitical_Shifts_Trump_Waives_Russia_Sanctions\"><\/span>Geopolitical Shifts: Trump Waives Russia Sanctions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In a move that has blindsided European allies and deepened friction with Kyiv, <strong>President Donald Trump<\/strong> issued an executive order on Friday waiving a series of sanctions under the <strong>Lindsey O. Graham Act of 2026<\/strong>. The legislation, signed just last month, would have imposed <strong>100% tariffs<\/strong> on goods from the largest importers of Russian <a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/energy\/crude-oil\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"12\" title=\"Crude oil\">crude oil<\/a> and gas.<\/p>\n<p>Trump justified the waiver as being in the &quot;national interest,&quot; citing a need to stabilize global energy prices ahead of domestic midterm elections. This decision follows a recent deal to purchase <strong>300,000 metric tons of Russian diesel<\/strong>, a move that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described as a betrayal as the war enters its fourth year.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"AI_Financing_Anthropics_60_Billion_%22Project_North_Star%22\"><\/span>AI Financing: Anthropic\u2019s $60 Billion &quot;Project North Star&quot;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Artificial intelligence startup <strong>Anthropic<\/strong> is pushing the boundaries of private credit with a proposed <strong>$60 billion debt arrangement<\/strong>. Under the plan, <strong>Blackstone (<a href=\"\/stock\/BX\">BX<\/a>)<\/strong> would anchor an $18 billion junior loan tranche with a <strong>$9 billion investment<\/strong>. The debt is backed by Anthropic\u2019s five-year lease payments for <strong>Google (<a href=\"\/stock\/GOOGL\">GOOGL<\/a>)<\/strong> custom semiconductors, known as Tensor Processing Units (TPUs).<\/p>\n<p>To attract investors in a tightening market, Anthropic is reportedly offering a <strong>double-digit yield (10%+)<\/strong>, significantly higher than the 7% typically seen for similar credit profiles. This &quot;Project North Star&quot; follows a smaller $4.4 billion deal in June, signaling the massive capital requirements for scaling AI infrastructure.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"M_A_SoftBank_Eyes_30_Billion_Security_Play\"><\/span>M&amp;A: SoftBank Eyes $30 Billion Security Play<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>SoftBank Group (<a href=\"\/stock\/SFTBY\">SFTBY<\/a>)<\/strong> is exploring an acquisition of <strong>Allied Universal<\/strong>, the world\u2019s largest private security provider. The deal could value the company\u2019s equity at <strong>$18 billion<\/strong>, with a total enterprise value reaching <strong>$30 billion<\/strong> when including its $12 billion in existing debt.<\/p>\n<p>Founder Masayoshi Son reportedly views the acquisition as a platform to deploy <strong>AI-powered humanoid robots<\/strong> across physical workplaces, potentially replacing human guards for routine tasks. However, investors reacted cautiously to the news, with SoftBank\u2019s ADRs falling approximately <strong>9.5%<\/strong> following the reports.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Global_Security_North_Koreas_AI_Torpedo_Hormuz_Tensions\"><\/span>Global Security: North Korea\u2019s AI Torpedo &amp; Hormuz Tensions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>North Korea<\/strong> has declared the successful underwater test of the <strong>Zam-2.0<\/strong>, a &quot;superspeed&quot; precision-guided torpedo. According to state media (KCNA), the weapon utilizes <strong>AI technology<\/strong> for autonomous target detection and guidance, designed to overcome South Korean and U.S. naval decoys. The test follows five years of development involving over 180 propulsion trials.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, in the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>, Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guards reported that an oil tanker carrying <strong>2 million barrels of crude<\/strong> exploded after striking a naval mine. This marks the third such incident reported since October 10, as tensions remain high in the strategic waterway.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Corporate_Regional_Briefs\"><\/span>Corporate &amp; Regional Briefs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Vietnam Economic Target:<\/strong> Prime Minister Le Minh Hung announced that Vietnam aims for at least <strong>10% GDP growth in 2027<\/strong>, while maintaining inflation at <strong>4.5%<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>FAA Pay Deal:<\/strong> The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) agreed to a <strong>2.8% pay raise<\/strong>. The increase is tied to efficiency reforms, including stricter timecard tracking and workload-based scheduling.<\/li>\n<li><strong>IDScan.net Breach:<\/strong> Identity verification firm <strong>IDScan.net<\/strong> reported a security breach affecting its VeriScan platform between April and September 2026. The exposure may include names, dates of birth, and <strong>identity documents<\/strong> for up to 13 million individuals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways President Donald Trump issued a broad waiver on October 16 for sanctions mandated by the Lindsey O. Graham [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":50383,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"rank_math_schema_Article":[],"rank_math_focus_keyword":[],"rank_math_description":[],"financial_data_references":[],"stock_symbols_mentioned":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[5012],"tags":[16266,4335,23224,4537,23225,4544,5062,5410,5444,6682,7636,11229],"class_list":["post-73159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-breaking-news","tag-softbank-sftby-stock-sftby","tag-donald-trump","tag-idscan-net","tag-anthropic","tag-natca","tag-ai-infrastructure","tag-faa","tag-vietnam","tag-russia-sanctions","tag-north-korea","tag-blackstone-bx-stock-bx","tag-kcna"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73159"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73159\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=73159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}